Advances in medical education and practice
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The use of an anesthesiology rotation in the realm of surgical education is not very well studied. Several studies show the importance of an anesthesiology rotation in the grand scheme of undergraduate medical education. However, its importance in perioperative medicine and surgical education is not very well understood. This study attempts to look at this relationship and determine whether or not a temporal relationship between this anesthesiology rotation and a surgical rotation is important. ⋯ The pairing of anesthesiology with a general surgery rotation does indeed improve the perioperative medicine education and knowledge of students. Students appreciate having a week of anesthesiology with the surgical rotation, and they note that it adds value to the general surgery rotation.
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In the UK, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be undertaken in the event of cardiac arrest unless a patient has a "Do Not Attempt CPR" document. Doctors have a legal duty to discuss CPR with patients or inform them that CPR would be futile. In this study, final-year medical students were interviewed about their experiences of resuscitation on the wards and of observing conversations about resuscitation status to explore whether they would be equipped to have an informed discussion about resuscitation in the future. ⋯ It is vital that doctors are comfortable talking to patients about resuscitation. Given the increasing importance of this aspect of communication, it should be considered for inclusion in the formal communication skills teaching during medical school.
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Medical student involvement in research has been declining over the years. We reviewed the factors that hinder participation in research with a focus on developing countries. ⋯ While early introduction to research by inculcating a mindset aimed at research has been proposed, it has not been seen in practice during either the medical school or beyond to an extent that was expected. It appears that developing countries, while they share some of the reasons with developed countries, have their own set of difficulties, which are influenced by culture, beliefs and priorities.
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Demand for generalist health professional knowledge and skills in pediatric palliative care (PPC) is growing in response to heightened recognition of the benefits of a palliative approach across the neonatal, pediatric, adolescent and young adult lifespan. This study investigates factors that enhanced PPC workforce capability and education outcomes in metropolitan and regional areas through the integration of dedicated educator roles within specialist pediatric palliative care (SPPC) teams through a national education project. ⋯ This study contributes to a growing body of knowledge on innovative and responsive mechanisms for enhancing workforce capability in PPC and provides additional evidence to support funding of dedicated educator roles in specialist PPC services.
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Social determinants of health (SDH) are responsible for significant health disparities, morbidity and mortality. It is important to acculturate trainees to identify and document SDH. This can elevate their perceptions related to the importance and relevance of SDH. Documentation can encourage trainees to see SDH as factors which medical providers should address. ⋯ Students' voluntary logging of SDH codes demonstrates they perceived these factors to be important and relevant to patient encounters. Future analyses will examine students' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to SDH.